Elastomeric cushioning elements with substantially cylindrical columns
A cushioning element includes interconnected walls that define voids and hollow columns that are substantially cylindrical or cylindrical in shape. Some of the interconnected walls may project laterally from a wall that defines part of a hollow column to further define part of an interspace between a group of hollow columns. Methods of designing cushioning elements with hollow columns that are substantially cylindrical or cylindrical are also disclosed.
1 . A cushion comprising:
an elastomeric cushioning material defining:
a plurality of hollow columns that are cylindrical or substantially cylindrical;
at least one lateral projection extending from an outer surface of each of the hollow columns, the at least one lateral projection joining a hollow column of the plurality of hollow columns with an adjacent hollow column of the plurality of hollow columns; and
a plurality of interspaces defined between walls defining the hollow columns and at least partially defined by lateral projections of the hollow columns,
wherein the plurality of hollow columns have a first buckling profile and the walls and the lateral projections that at least partially define the plurality of interspaces have a second buckling profile different than the first buckling profile, such that the plurality of hollow columns begin to buckle under a different applied force than the walls and the lateral projections that at least partially define the plurality of interspaces start to buckle.
2 . The cushion of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow columns is arranged in a grid.
3 . The cushion of claim 1 , further comprising a fabric material on a surface of the elastomeric cushioning material and for stabilizing the elastomeric cushioning material.
4 . The cushion of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow columns define buckling columns, with each buckling column of the buckling columns has a longitudinal axis extending through a thickness of the cushion along with the buckling column buckles.
5 . The cushion of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow columns begin to buckle under an applied force of at least about 9 lb-f.
6 . A cushion comprising:
an elastomeric cushioning material defining:
a plurality of hollow columns that are cylindrical or substantially cylindrical positioned adjacent to each other, each hollow column having a first cross-sectional shape and/or size, taken perpendicular to a height of the hollow column; and
a plurality of interspaces, each interspace defined by walls defining a group of hollow columns and having a second cross-sectional shape and/or size, taken perpendicular to a height of the interspace, that differs from the first cross-sectional shape and/or size,
wherein the plurality of hollow columns have a first buckling profile based at least in part on the first cross-sectional shape and/or size, and the walls that define the plurality of interspaces have a second buckling profile based at least in part on the second cross-sectional shape and/or size, the second buckling profile being different than the first buckling profile.
7 . The cushion of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of lateral projections spacing adjacent hollow columns of the plurality of hollow columns apart from each other, walls defining a group of hollow columns of the plurality of hollow columns and a group of lateral projections joining the group of hollow columns together defining an interspace of the plurality of interspaces between the group of hollow columns.